Windsor Man Is Charged In Gang Rape Of Girl, 13

March 06, 1999|By STEPHANIE BRENOWITZ; Courant Staff Writer

EAST HARTFORD — A Windsor man was arrested Friday on charges that he participated in a gang rape of a 13-year-old girl.

Carlton Smith, 25, of 17 Bristol Road, was held in lieu of $500,000 bail. He was charged with two counts of aggravated sexual assault, four counts of being an accessory to aggravated sexual assault, first-degree kidnapping with a firearm and risk of injury to a juvenile.

The girl, from Manchester, told police that on Jan. 25 she was held against her will in East Hartford, raped by several men and threatened with a gun, police said.

``It is one of the worst cases of sexual assault I have seen in the last 20 years on the job,'' said police Cmdr. Bob Kenary, head of investigative services.

Police would not reveal any other details about the crime because the warrant in the case has been sealed. The investigation is continuing, and police said they expect more arrests.

In 1997, Smith was acquitted of charges that he shot and killed Earl Anderson, 27, an amateur boxer, in Hartford. His public defender, Jeff Hutcoe, had argued that his confession was beaten out of him by Hartford police.

The sexual assault investigation was conducted by East Hartford Officer Hardie Burgin, with assistance from the state's attorney's office and Hartford police. Smith was arrested Friday morning by Windsor police Officer John Ponte, accompanied by the Windsor Locks canine team.

Smith was arraigned at Manchester Superior Court Friday and his bail was increased from $350,000. He is scheduled to return to court March 30.